Maximal aerobic power and anaerobic capacity in cycling across the age spectrum in male master athletes

Purpose: To analyze best 1-h unaccompanied performances of master athletes in ages ranging from 35 to 105 y to estimate the decay of maximal aerobic power (MAP) across the spectrum of age. Methods: MAP at the various ages was estimated by computing the metabolic power () maintained to cover the distances during best 1-h unaccompanied performances established by master athletes of different classes of age and by assuming that they were able to maintain an equal to 88% of their MAP during 1 h of exhaustive exercise. Results: MAP started monotonically decreasing at 47 y of age. Thereafter, it showed an average rate of decrease of ∼14% for the decades up to 105 y of age, similar to other classes of master athletes. Conclusions: The results confirm, by extending the analysis to centennial subjects, that MAP seems to start declining from the middle of the 5th decade of age, with an average percentage decay that is faster than that traditionally reported, even when one maintains a very active lifestyle. The proposed approach may be applied to other types of human locomotion for which the relationship between speed and is known.

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Do maximal aerobic power and anaerobic capacity start really to decrease at the fourth decade of life?

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-016-3472-1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 116 (11-12) ◽

pp. 2423-2424 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fabio Borrani ◽

Grégoire P. Millet

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Power ◽

Anaerobic Capacity ◽

Maximal Aerobic Power ◽

Fourth Decade

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Maximal aerobic power, lactate threshold, and running performance in master athletes

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1097/00005768-200006000-00021 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 1165-1170 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

ROBERT A. WISWELL ◽

S. VICTORIA JAQUE ◽

TAYLOR J. MARCELL ◽

STEVEN A. HAWKINS ◽

KYLE M. TARPENNING ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactate Threshold ◽

Aerobic Power ◽

Maximal Aerobic Power ◽

Master Athletes ◽

Running Performance

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Enhanced insulin sensitivity and lower waist-to-hip ratio in master athletes

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.1995.268.3.e484 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 268 (3) ◽

pp. E484-E490 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

R. E. Pratley ◽

J. M. Hagberg ◽

E. M. Rogus ◽

A. P. Goldberg

Keyword(s):

Insulin Sensitivity ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Aerobic Power ◽

Maximal Aerobic Power ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Master Athletes ◽

Waist To Hip Ratio

The effect of long-term aerobic exercise training on insulin action was determined in older individuals by comparing insulin sensitivity and maximal responsiveness in 11 master athletes [63.5 +/- 1.9 (SE) yr] and 10 age- and body fat-matched sedentary individuals. Maximal aerobic power was higher and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was lower in the athletes, but there were no differences in body weight, percent body fat, or fat-free mass between groups. Fasting plasma glucose levels and glucose and insulin responses during oral glucose tolerance tests were lower in the athletes. The insulin concentration producing a half-maximal increase in glucose disposal (EC50) during a three-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic glucose clamp was 41% lower in the athletes than in controls (483 +/- 30 vs. 822 +/- 132 pmol/l, P < 0.05), whereas maximal responsiveness was comparable (81.0 +/- 4.4 vs. 85.5 +/- 8.3 mumol.kg fat-free mass-1.min-1, P = not significant). The EC50 correlated with maximal aerobic power (r = -0.62, P < 0.01) and WHR (r = 0.52, P < 0.05), but in multiple regression analyses WHR was the only variable independently related to EC50. These results indicate that long-term aerobic exercise training is associated with enhanced insulin sensitivity and a lower WHR in older individuals. This finding suggests that regular aerobic exercise may prevent the age-associated increase in abdominal obesity and insulin resistance.

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A theoretical analysis of the effect of altitude on running performance

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1991.70.1.399 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 399-404 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

F. Peronnet ◽

G. Thibault ◽

D. L. Cousineau

Keyword(s):

Theoretical Analysis ◽

Sea Level ◽

Aerobic Power ◽

Energy Requirement ◽

Aerodynamic Resistance ◽

Average Power ◽

Anaerobic Capacity ◽

Maximal Aerobic Power ◽

Running Performance ◽

Average Speed

A theoretical analysis of the effect of altitude on running performance is presented using a mathematical model we have recently described and validated (J. Appl. Physiol. 67: 453–465, 1989). This model relates the average power output available over a given running time for a given combination of anaerobic capacity, maximal aerobic power, and endurance capability. For short sprinting distances, the contribution of aerobic metabolism to the energy requirement is small and the speed sustained is high. The reduction of maximal aerobic power with altitude is, thus, negligible, whereas the reduction of aerodynamic resistance is beneficial. Accordingly the performance steadily increases with altitude (e.g., average speed for 100 m at Mexico City is 101.9% of the average speed at sea level). On the other hand, the reduction in maximal aerobic power with altitude is associated with a reduction in performance over middle and long distances (800 m to marathon). For 400 m an improvement in performance is observed up to an altitude of approximately 2,400–2,500 m (average speed approximately 101.4% of sea level speed). Beyond this altitude the reduction in air density cannot compensate for the reduction in maximal aerobic power, and the performance deteriorates. Tables of performances equivalent to the current world records for selected altitudes ranging from 0 to 4,000 m are proposed.

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